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Blue Jays fell 4-1 to the Red Sox in Danny Jansen’s return to Toronto
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Photo credit: © John E. Sokolowski - USA Today
Ryley Delaney
Sep 23, 2024, 22:00 EDTUpdated: Sep 23, 2024, 22:37 EDT
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With just five games left in the season, the Toronto Blue Jays have hit rock bottom.
On Monday evening, they started a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox, falling 4-1 to bring their season record to 73-84. They are now the furthest away from .500 than they’ve been all season, not great.
Boston broke the scoreless tie in the top of the second, as Vaughn Grissom hit a sacrifice fly. The following inning, Wilyer Abreu hit his 33rd double of the season to drive in Triston Casas and make it 2-0.
More runs were scored by the Red Sox, as Ceddanne Rafaela grounded out in the top of the fourth for a run to score, the same play happened in the top of the eighth to make it 4-0. Toronto’s only run came thanks to a Spencer Horwitz single in the bottom of the ninth.
Diving into the stats…
The Blue Jays actually out-hit the Red Sox, finishing with six compared to Boston’s five. However, three of the Red Sox’s hits were doubles, while the Blue Jays only hit singles. They got hits from Ernie Clement, Spencer Horwitz, Leo Jiménez, Alejandro Kirk, Nathan Lukes, and George Springer.
It wasn’t the best game by starter Chris Bassitt, as he allowed three runs (two earned) in four and one third innings, walking seven and striking out two to bring his season ERA to 4.16. Zach Pop walked a batter to get out of the inning.
Tommy Nance was solid, striking out a batter and allowing the final hit of the game for the Red Sox in his inning of work. Brendon Little pitched a clean inning, while Dillon Tate gave up an earned run thanks to two walks. Erik Swanson got the final three outs, striking out a batter.
Former Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen also returned to Toronto for the first time since the trade. He was traded to the Red Sox in exchange for Eddinson Paulino, Gilberto Batista, and Cutter Coffey.
With the loss, the Pittsburgh Pirates surpassed the Blue Jays in the standings, meaning that Toronto now has a 7.48% chance to jump to the first overall pick in the draft lottery. Moving to fourth seems unlikely, as the Washington Nationals have a 69-87 record with just six games left to play. They essentially need to win five games while the Jays lose five games.
The Jays will have a chance to lose another game on Tuesday, but that doesn’t seem likely as Bowden Francis starts. Last time he pitched against the Red Sox, he pitched five hitless innings. Tuesday’s game starts at 7:07 PM ET.
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.

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